Helix heading sensor setup

[@samjolalte7990]

Your excellent advice and tutorial solved all my issues installing my new Humminbird GPS Head Sensor for my Helix 9 Mega SI Gen 4 and Mercury 4-strole 90HP outboard motor (+ Minnkota i-pilot non-network and MK Head sensor puck) set-up. NICE... Everything works like a charm. Any speed I go with my outboard or trolling motor, I now know exactly where I'm navigating at all times. NOTE: Your info helped me find out that my sensor puck or sensor puck cable bundled in a loop next to the Mercury outboard motor main cables was the problem, despite the fact that using a compass in the garage looked good. Your video also brought me to understand how beneficial it is to display both COG and Head-up direction lines on your chart when navigating.You are so bang on with your video. Thanks!

[@ryunmiskus7935]

Thank you so much for the easy to follow directions!!!

[@LeerburgDogTraining]

This is great. I have fought with my installs for 4 years and your two video on leveling the boat in the water and this video solved so many problems.

[@tomellison8121]

Thank you for the education

[@FISHNUTSS]

Great video, thanks for taking the time and posting it.

[@pickwickmarineelectronics1019]

Your welcome...

[@skwira000]

I haven’t forgotten the video. I ran into a outboard issue and it turned out my brother in law reconnected the spark plug wires in the wrong order. Yesterday wasn’t windy enough to demonstrate. I’m not going to test in 2 MPH wind. I’m going to show the difference between Minn Kota heading sensor in a decent breeze vs no heading sensor at all. Also my puck is mounted 10 degrees off. I’ll offset it back to 0 and show you how bad follow the contour operates. I can at least do that in calm conditions and again with my Humminbird pucks disconnected. Who ever is saying it’s just for spot lock and jog isn’t telling accurate information. Minn Kota only gives jog with the remote control. Humminbird gives jog using the Humminbird fish finder.

[@danielscotto3682]

See the Hs in accessory diag list but still using internal gps, I am not seeing the network tab. Did change to custom from angler. Helix 8 4pm. Latest software. I have no network equipment. Worked last year.

[@danielscotto3682]

That is Helix 8 G4N

[@JCASTELLUCCIOJR]

GREAT VIDEO-extremely informative using the Helix---BUT....i HAVE A 898ci HD Humminbird GPS : WHAT would be the list of views to open, engage so as 'dial-in'/'pair' my Ulterra Head sensor using the 898??? Thanking you in advance

[@jameswahlstrom7262]

John the 998 and Helix interface are very similar. You should be able to get the same view as what I have showing. To my knowledge the wording hasn't changed.

[@alanaho4915]

Pickwick I'm going to triple check my cable connection to the back but my Helix 12 G3N is not picking up the AS GPS HS device. It only lists the Internal GPS. Also in the Box Overlays I found Course, but no Heading, which I find strange. I'm doing all this in my garage in Normal mode. Recommendations? TIA

[@EastCoastLtd]

need custom mode first, then go to network and change source to as gps hs

[@donnieoneal6739]

Thanks for the great video, it was awesome and explained a ton. Question for you though, instead of dialing it in on the water, could you not do it while driving down a straight road, with boat on the trailer and get that puppy completely dialed in?

[@pickwickmarineelectronics1019]

I guess you could do that. I've never tried it though as I use any excuse I can when the lake is involved. :-)

[@donnieoneal6739]

Do you know how to show it on the Solix or even the Onix? The COG and Heading readings so that when driving one can get it dialed in?

[@donnieoneal6739]

Never mind, figured it out thanks

[@pickwickmarineelectronics1019]

Good deal!

[@crappienaterfishing1198]

That was great

[@JimGrady67]

Question: How do I turn on these lines in a Solix G3? I upgraded my graphs and have look in the menu and manual and can't seem to find it. I set up my old graph a couple years ago and don't remember it being hard to find it then. Thanks!

[@jamesw5836]

On a chart screen go to the menu and preferences. The heading line is in the overlay tab. COG should be on by default.

[@JimGrady67]

@@jamesw5836 Thanks for jogging my memory. That's what I was doing wrong I kept thinking it should be somewhere in navigation.

[@skwira000]

Hey Pickwick Marine Electronics. So you know what the difference is between the Minn Kota heading sensor and Humminbird? One has just a compass heading and the other has both the compass and antenna. The Humminbird heading sensor can make follow the contour better vs. the Minn Kota because of the antenna on the opposite end of the cable than where the puck is located. If Minn Kota is telling you that the Minn Kota bluetooth does not improve follow the contour over using no heading sensor at all, that's hogwash. There's a HUGE difference trolling at 0.6 MPH using the Minn Kota bluetooth over using nothing. But I did decide to get 2 Humminbirds just because I wanted a better connection to the satellites.

[@jameswahlstrom7262]

Well Brandon I get my information directly from folks that I am 100% confident understand the particulars of the Minnkota/Humminbird products. What I post here, and other places, is a set of factual information from those folks and experience. If it's OK with you I'll ignore your not-so-knowledgable advice. I hope others ignore you also.

[@skwira000]

Well I was busy last year doing projects every time I went up to the cabin. When there's ice out, I'll prove it on video. It's about as obvious figuring out if your TV is turned on or turned off.

[@skwira000]

Didn't the cable companies tell you you needed a cable box and we found out that wasn't true. Remember how many arguments that started. Turned out people weren't crazy.

[@skwira000]

Another thing they I just heard was map offset apply when you insert a new Lakemaster card. It absolutely does. I went around a reef last year multiple times and every time I shifted the map it and I would be in the weeds say on the west side leaving it alone and when I shifted I would be in deep water on the west side and in the weeds on the east side. I have found manual maps are the way to go around weed edges at least on my lake. I started auto chart live but I haven't had the time to map my whole lake yet. I'll video proof that as well. Like I said, I got my new Lund last year and I kept having project each week I was working on. Plus I have a boat lift.

[@skwira000]

Plus any person who understand technology really well doesn't claim they know someone who is 100% confident. I work in IT. I deal with something a lot bigger than just your local network on your boat. There's bugs and a lot of things that are supposed to work a certain way that do not. There's different updates that could affect how the heading sensor operates. There is no such thing as an software engineer or any high level tech that's 100% sure. Most of the time they are right. I'm just telling you just in this simple setup with I-Pilot Link there's way too many variables for you to know someone who is 100% confident.

[@jedifredjacob]

How i can return from my garage in winter to a lake i chart with AutoChart Live this summer ?

[@pickwickmarineelectronics1019]

Everything I fish is on Lakemaster in HD so I’m not real familiar with autochart. The sections of the lake I have tried do show in my shop if I take the cursor and scroll to that part of the lake. You do have to have a gps signal. Other than this I’m not sure. Sorry

[@omarf4]

Great video. Thank you. Quick question: In the video, are you using the point1 as the external GPS? In the accessory view in the video, it shows your nmea2k network as not connected so a bit confused if the point1 is the external source? I have both the helix 10 and the point1 but unable to see the point1 as a source for external GPS. I can however use the heading and attitude information. Can you clarify if the helix can use the point1 via nmea2k as an external GPS source? Appreciated.

[@pickwickmarineelectronics1019]

Omar the external source for the Helix in this video is the Humminbird HS antenna that I had mounted at that time. The Helix can use the point 1 with the addition of the NMEA adapter (part # 408390-1). I run several units on my boat for demo which is why I have the NMEA network and point 1 installed. My Onix, as will the Solix, use the Point1 and I find it just a small bit smoother in movement than the HB antenna,

[@omarf4]

Thanks. Unfortunately, the Helix will not recognize the Point1 as an external GPS or display it as an option in the network tab. HB support has confirmed this problem with no resolution yet as of April 2017.

[@pickwickmarineelectronics1019]

Thanks for the information. I wasn't aware of that.

[@stevec407]

I have two older units, a 899 and a 859 that I am trying to connect a external heading sensor to their network. I believe there are no issues with the network, the problem is I don’t get a heading readout on the display. I get a COG and a location option which is nothing more than GPS coordinates.What am I doing wrong?

[@jameswahlstrom7262]

Steve is the heading sensor working on the unit it's connected to? The heading options and information will only show if the sensor is working. If it's working on that unit make sure the software on both units is the same.

[@stevec407]

I believe it is working, the diagnostic readout says it is and the accessories verifies it’s connected. The main problem I have is there is only a COG reading and no heading reading on my display, I was told that the older units such as the ones I’m trying to sync the heading sensor to doesn’t have a option for heading readout. But when I move the puck around it does change my COG reading, i just can’t calibrate it against a heading readout

[@jameswahlstrom7262]

@@stevec407 Its been awhile but I think I remember there being a heading line on the older units. In fact if you look through some of my older videos I think I made on on how to set the sensor and turn on the heading line. That would have been on one of the x99 units.

[@stevec407]

James, could you direct me to that video?

[@jameswahlstrom7262]

@@stevec407 I think it this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5_VXqxuhcqSma8

[@chrisntab]

didn't mention anything about red doughnut at low mph. is there any calibration like point 1? or do you drive in straight line and align hs sensor only? does hs sensor have arrow?

[@pickwickmarineelectronics1019]

+Christopher Parker I forgot a few things... lol There is no calibration with Humminbird. I actually didn't calibrate my Point one either. With the correct install location that shouldn't be necessary. It does have an arrow on top that points straight ahead. If you drive in a straight line the GOG and Heading information will be within 2-4 degrees of each other like it shows in the video. When you find a good location only put one screw in so you can pivot the antenna for adjustment they install the second screw.

[@robertharris7887]

Can you use one hb heading sensor for more than one graph?

[@billyray8904]

yes. just need ethernet cable and 2 units with networking feature. g3n for example or any generation with for that matter with the letter n. the "n" in g3n stands for networking. allows waypoints to be shared and other things like the heading sensor and gps data.

[@fishon131313]

Are you running True North or Magnetic?

[@jurislipiniks2920]

I bought new sensor XHS 9 HDSI 180 T Transducer for my HELIX 9 SI GPS. Instaleed new Versions HELIX 9 SI GPS,Vers.1.46 and Basemap,Vers.1.051. Fishing deepth 4-7 meters. After updating cannot see any of fish symbols on the sonar screen.No fish alarms(alarms-On). I am using 455Hz. What reason could be???

[@pickwickmarineelectronics1019]

I don't use the fish id feature so can't help much. If you haven't reset the defaults on the unit give that a try.

[@jurislipiniks2920]

Problem resolved,thanks

[@andym.9465]

Is it possible to connect the AS-GRP-HS direct to the Helix 12 G2N unit? Or do I have to go thru NMEA 2K to get it connected?

[@pickwickmarineelectronics1019]

The HB HS antenna plugs into the back of Helix units. They are not NMEA 2000 deices.

[@andym.9465]

THX a lot for your fast answere !

[@DaliborDu]

Pickwick Marine Electronics how to plug to helix there are no cables only bt connection with minnkota ?!

[@e.butler5903]

The arrow on the reciever just needs to be pointed towards front of boat as close as eye can tell? Just mainly checking for interference?

[@ThunderCoopersmith]

Every time I do this when I come back it’s off. Any idea why it won’t stick and keep my course line and heading line the same?

[@jameswahlstrom7262]

Make sure that the readings stay close when going all directions. I have had more than one install where I thought the settings were just perfect and turned the boat 45 degrees to check them and they were off by a lot. I have no idea why this happens but I just kept moving the heading sensor around until I found a place it would work in all directions. One inch location change can make a huge difference in how it performs. Magnetic interference is a strange beast sometimes.

[@ThunderCoopersmith]

James Wahlstrom thanks for the reply

[@timmorris6396]

Im confused. Im getting a new Helix 9 SI G2N unit. It has a built in GPS. Is this external sensor something i need to have also? Can I do follow the contour feature and spot lock without this external sensor?

[@pickwickmarineelectronics1019]

Tim you can do all or that without the heading sensor. The Helix units have a built in GPS antenna but no heading sensor. The heading sensor is like a magnetic compass in this model of antenna. As shown it allows you to see where you are in relationship to a target. Without the heading sensor the boat icon will simply turn into a circle. Do a google search and do a little reading. it will all make sense then.

[@skwira000]

Also if you got the new I-Pilot Link 2017 or later addition, the trolling motor itself comes with a Bluetooth heading sensor that syncs directly to the trolling motor. In all likelihood you got the old one because the only place I've seen is mk.factoryoutlet.com who is selling the new one. Maybe later this year local retailers will begin selling it. It's one less device that the heading sensor needs to travel through because it goes right to the trolling motor instead of being hooked up through the fish finder.

[@timmorris6396]

Im getting the 2017 Ulterra with Ipilot link. Ethernet with 2 Helix 9 G2n birds

[@skwira000]

OK then don't worry about the heading sensor because your trolling motor will come with one. Again this will sync up to your trolling motor instead of connecting to your fish finder. You calibrate it through the remote control by doing 2 complete circles and then you drive straight with the trolling motor parallel with the keel.

[@jamesw5836]

Two separate discussions here folks. The new trolling motors use the heading sensor that is included for the jog feature only. The heading sensor that hooks into the unit is used to orient yourself to a target. Neither one will take the place of the other one at this time.

[@timmorris6396]

Is this heading sensor built in on the new Helix G2N models?

[@pickwickmarineelectronics1019]

No it is only found in the HS Gps Antenna.

[@skwira000]

The new I-Pilot Link 2017 has a Minn Kota sensor instead of the Humminbird sensor that comes with the trolling motor. The legacy version does not come with one and therefor you need the Humminbird sensor connected to the fish finder.

[@jamesw5836]

Just in case anyone has the wrong idea after reading the above comment ....... the Minnkota heading sensor does not interface with any HB units at this time.

[@skwira000]

It doesn't interface with Humminbird units, yes that's correct. But it still helps in follow the contour. The ultimate decision is in the trolling motor head. James of Pickwick Marine Electronics doesn't believe me so I have to do a video of it. I'll show all possibilities and I'll remove the Humminbird heading sensors I have.

[@skwira000]

I never made the comment that it interfaced with the Humminbird. I know it doesn't do that. What I'm saying is if you use no heading sensors and only use Minn Kota's, Follow the Contour will have just as good of a performance as the Humminbird ones.